'Innovation' promised... but only 'Familiar Faces' in the Opposition By-election

Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is wiping sweat as if feeling tense during a New Year's press conference at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The candidates advancing to the preliminary primary of the People Power Party (PPP) for the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election have been announced, but it is difficult to find traces of the 'innovation' declared by Interim Chairman Kim Jong-in. Except for candidates Na Kyung-won and Oh Se-hoon, there are few heavyweight newcomers.

The PPP has shown a commitment to discovering political newcomers. They applied additional points of 20% in the preliminary primary and 10% in the main primary for women, newcomers, youth, and persons with severe disabilities, and introduced a 'Political Newcomer Track System' that includes the highest-scoring newcomer in the preliminary primary in the main primary. This aligns with Interim Chairman Kim Jong-in's consistent advocacy for 'disruptive innovation' and party reform.

However, among the eight candidates in the Seoul mayoral preliminary primary, the only newcomer without prior experience running for public office is Lee Seung-hyun, Honorary Chairman of the Korea Foreign Enterprise Association. In the past, there have been several cases where heavyweight newcomers were elected as Seoul mayor.

Voices of regret are also coming from within the PPP. Recently, Chairman Kim reportedly said in a closed meeting, "After the April 15 general election last year, we tried hard to show the public a changed image, but the Seoul mayoral candidates are receiving concentrated attention on those with high name recognition." At the New Year's press conference on the 27th, Chairman Kim dismissed the possibility of a new figure emerging in the opposition by saying, "Looking at the current candidates for the Seoul mayoral by-election, there is no possibility (of a new figure emerging)."

Park Sang-chul, Dean of the Graduate School of Political Studies at Kyonggi University, pointed out, "The opposition party needs a heavyweight figure who can provide a new vision," adding, "The failure to bring in new talent in this by-election is a limitation of Kim Jong-in's leadership."